The Wasteland Reviewer

The Wasteland Collection: It Happened One Night (1934)

Are you a fan of romantic comedies? This genre of movies has gotten to the point where it is so polarizing. Some audiences eat these fluffy flicks up like they are their favorite dessert. Others avoid romantic comedies like the plague. Unfortunately, the genre has turned into more of a parody of itself with only a few avenues putting effort into creating them. Hallmark. Netflix. The rare and occasionally theatrically released film. So many romantic comedies have just been regulated to the void that is streaming. But that was not always the case. Romantic comedies used to be the biggest box office draws. They used to win Academy Awards. One of the first great romantic comedies that has stood the test of time…It Happened One Night.

What has this Frank Capra classic done for the romantic comedy genre? So many of the tropes that thrive in each romantic comedy stemmed from It Happened One Night. The core of any romantic comedy is the couple. Many of these films begin with a man and woman who just don’t get along at all. But they are going to be thrown into a situation where they are forced to spend time together and slowly explore their connection that begins to grow. That is exactly the blueprint that Capra delivers in this fun and charming film. Claudette Colbert is a runaway heiress who is mad at her rich father for getting involved in her love life. This missing heiress situation captures the eye of a rogue journalist portrayed by Clark Gable. This journalist is abrasive and smells a big story. This heiress is ignorant to the world around her and is spoiled rotten. But of course…they will find the right balance of tension and chemistry that will draw them together. You have seen this on-screen time and time again…but this is the beginning and peak of such cinematic tales.

What is the other half of romantic comedy? The laughs, of course. There are so many iconic and fun moments in Capra’s film. One of the most famous scenes in any film is the “hitchhiking” scene as Peter and Ellie (Gable and Colbert) attempt to get themselves a ride. Confident and sure, Peter fails miserably. Ellie uses her head…and leg to get the right bit of attention. The subversion of the situation is classic and hilarious. You have fun comic relief characters along the way too including Alan Hale’s driver who picks them up. One of the most fun parts of any comedy is the motley crew of characters you meet along the way. The charming and funny running gag of the hanging sheet between the two of them sharing a room is just such a perfect element ripe of gags. Robert Riskin’s screenplay is just stuffed to the gills with sharp, quick dialogue that keeps you engaged from start to finish.

What is the most important piece of It Happened One Night’s legacy? The dawn of the Screwball Comedy. This Capra romp channels all the elements that made this such a beloved (and is beloved) subgenre of romance films. These classic comedies rest so much on the shoulders of the A-list stars and the combination of Gable/Colbert is one of the greatest romantic pairings in all film history. The spark of the on-screen chemistry is infectious. These legendary comedies always had the wildest set-ups as well and It Happened One Night doesn’t disappoint. This idea of a desperate journalist chasing down a runaway bride/heiress is a silly and wild concept that opens the door for so many shenanigans on the road. This is a fast-talking, fast paced, and farcical romp with plenty of energy and personality. All the tenements of screwball comedy rolled into one perfectly executed comedy. This is the perfect gateway film to get into this classic style of comedy.